We are entering a new era: one defined by bold displays of power and influence on a global scale. But what is the nature of this shift? How is this new form of power projection shaping our daily lives, our democracies, and the future of Europe? Most importantly, how can we begin to regulate these forces, and develop new ways to balance their impact?

We live in an age of unbounded power projection with a display of power and influence. This is caused by a growing rivalry between great powers and the new foreign policy of the U.S. Moreover, power is projected through new means. Think of information warfare, the use of access to resources, the disturbance of supply chains, the weaponization of technologies like chips, AI, Quantum Technology and even the use of people as weapons (as migrants or by mobilizing criminal networks and diasporas). In this talk, Haroon Sheikh, senior researcher at the Dutch Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) and professor of philosophy at VU University, will explore how these new forms of power are changing global politics, putting pressure on democracy, and why we need fresh ideas to restore balance.

This event is in English, and an initiative by the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP) with the support of the University of Amsterdam. Science & Cocktails Amsterdam is presented in cooperation with Paradiso Amsterdam.